The most popular of Dragon Boat Festival is in commemoration of Qu Yuan (340-278 BC).
Who is Qu Yuan? - He was minister of the State of Chu and one of China´s earliest poets.
What did he do? Statesman- In face of great pressure from the powerful Qin State, he advocated enriching the country and strengthening its military forces so as to fight against the Qin.
Poet - He composed immortal poems including Li Sao (The Lament), Tian Wen (Heavenly Questions) and Jiu Ge (Nine Songs), which had far-reaching influences.
What happend to him at last?-In 278 BC, he heard the news that Qin troops had finally conquered Chu´s capital, so he finished his last piece Huai Sha (Embracing Sand) and plunged himself into the Miluo River, clasping his arms to a large stone.

Participants cheer while finishing a boat race held to mark the annual Dragon Boat Festival on the Mochou Lake, Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 10, 2013. This year's Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 12. (Xinhua/Han Hua)

Participants cheer while finishing a boat race held to mark the annual Dragon Boat Festival on the Mochou Lake, Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 10, 2013. This year's Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 12. (Xinhua/Han Hua)

Participants compete in a boat race held to mark the annual Dragon Boat Festival on the Mochou Lake, Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 10, 2013. This year's Dragon Boat Festival falls on June 12. (Xinhua/Han Hua)

A woman and her daughter makes "Zongzi", a kind of traditional Chinese rice-pudding people eat on the Dragon Boat Festival, in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, June 12, 2013. Wednesday marks the Dragon Boat Festival, a festival which falls on May 5 each year in lunar calendar in China. Local residents in Lanzhou held a series of celebration activities by the riverside of the Yellow River on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

Yao Yuan (L front), who is fond of the Han Chinese culture, holds a sacrificial ceremony for Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet during the Warring State Period (475-221 BC), during a celebration activity of the Dragon Boat Festival, in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, June 12, 2013. Wednesday marks the Dragon Boat Festival, a festival which falls on May 5 each year in lunar calendar in China. Local residents in Lanzhou held a series of celebration activities by the riverside of the Yellow River on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

Children hang perfume pouches for blessings onto a tree during a celebration activity of the Dragon Boat Festival, in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, June 12, 2013. Wednesday marks the Dragon Boat Festival, a festival which falls on May 5 each year in lunar calendar in China. Local residents in Lanzhou held a series of celebration activities by the riverside of the Yellow River on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

People play Guqin, a seven-stringed plucked instrument popular in ancient China, during a celebration activity of the Dragon Boat Festival, in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, June 12, 2013. Wednesday marks the Dragon Boat Festival, a festival which falls on May 5 each year in lunar calendar in China. Local residents in Lanzhou held a series of celebration activities by the riverside of the Yellow River on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)

People fond of the Han Chinese culture perform at a sacrificial ceremony for Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet during the Warring State Period (475-221 BC), during a celebration activity of the Dragon Boat Festival, in Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province, June 12, 2013. Wednesday marks the Dragon Boat Festival, a festival which falls on May 5 each year in lunar calendar in China. Local residents in Lanzhou held a series of celebration activities by the riverside of the Yellow River on this day. (Xinhua/Chen Bin)